AN: omg! 50 favs and 140 followers eeik! I love and appreciate every single favourite, follow and hit to this little story. Like I said it is my first published one so things are pretty new to me. I would like to thanks those (Chester99 and Crimson Sanguine to name a few) who review for the majority of the chapters. This chapter will focus heavily on the nine and their group dynamic so I hope this clears up any confusion for anybody. Please R&R and enjoy as always :)
Theo was looking around the common room intensely, his fingers still linked with those of his wife, whose cornflower eyes were bright and wide as she looked at her surroundings. The room had a faint Chudley Cannons theme as everything was on the orange and red colour spectrum. The chairs, all mismatched and worn, were muted orange in a range of fabrics. The heavy curtains were patchworked, made of various clothes, flags and pillows, simply stitched together to form long drapes. Daphne could see the obvious outline of a pair of corduroy trousers that had been attached to a faded cloak.
"Theo it's brilliant," she gushed, dragging him to the stone steps, eager to see the rest. The tall wizard followed obediently, allowing himself to be pulled up the spiraling staircase. She was beaming at how homely the room looked, knowing it was nothing like her childhood manor.
Daphne lead the way, climbing the steps slowly so that she could trace the names that were carved into the doors they passed every two metres or so as the wide staircase hugged the exposed stone walls of the tower. Small windows of varying shapes were dotted between the doors and Daphne audibly gasped when she saw the first of what turned out to be a pair of window seats that overlooked the Black Lake. The ancient glass gave the late afternoon a hazy light and Theo could see the shafts of sunlight illuminating the dust around the numerous cushions placed on the wide window sill.
His wife went to sit down but Theo was anxious to get to their room so he pushed her up the steps with an encouraging smile. The first door they had passed belonged to Pansy which was closely followed by Ginny's, Blaise's, Ron's, Neville's, Harry's, Parvati's, Luna's, Hannah's and then Ernie's. The final two rooms were situated at the top of the tower and Theo's stomach flopped when he looked down over the banister towards the common room. The others had slowly dispersed to find their own rooms apart from Hermione, Draco and Harry who were draped across the sofa, deep in conversation.
The penultimate room near the top of the tower belonged to Theo and Daphne and the witch couldn't help herself as she traced their names on the oak. She was beaming at the title of 'Mr and Mrs Nott'. Theo unlatched the door and it swung open to reveal a nicely sized room with a four poster king sized bed. Theo would be forever astounded at the power of magic as he knew that the room was on the outside of the tower yet it couldn't be seen from the grounds or the numerous windows.
The room, with it's polished, bare floorboards and fur rug wasn't the largest room either of the couple had called their own, but it's cozy quality and en suite suited the two just fine.
"I love it!" beamed Daphne as she poked her head in the white marble en suite. "It looks like something out of Witch Weekly. Oh Theo look," she called, her melodic voice echoing throughout the tiled bathroom.
Theo pushed himself up from the comfy bed he had sprawled on and crossed the room to find his wife sat in a large sunken tub. She was grinning as he looked around. There were his and her sinks and a tall mirror that hung above the counter reflecting Daphne as she lay back in the empty tub, a seductive smile on her face.
Theo's mind began to race as he watched her stretch out. The tub was too big for one and looked spacious enough for the both of the to bathe without even touching.
"It looks like the one in the prefect's bathroom," he remarked counting sixteen brass taps on their smaller version, each engraved with different scents and temperatures.
"We've got a two hours before dinner," smirked Daphne as she knelt up, keeping eye contact with her husband as she peeled her simple cotton summer dress off over her head. Theo followed her lead, practically ripping his Holyhead Harpies t-shirt in his haste to undress.
Daphne threw her head back and laughed as Theo hopped out of his slacks, his eagerness evident as she fiddled with the taps.
"You're still wearing too much Daph," he murmured, now naked as he climbed down into the tub, hissing at the heat of the water that was cascading over his feet.
The wizard kneeled as he reached out for Daphne, trailing soft kisses down her shoulder blade and he fiddled with her bra strap. The blonde's head dropped back onto his chest, moaning slightly as her husband toyed with her wet underwear. The water was up to their navels now, the couple still semi kneeling as they explored each other for a few moments more.
"Then do something about it Husband," she purred in response, a challenge Theo took seriously. The couple made good use of the bath and the counter over the next few hours, reveling in their own private space as they made love over and over.
"Come on Pans, I wanna see the rooms," said Ginny as she began to climb the stone stairs. Pansy had gravitated towards the windows, looking out over the grounds of the place she considered her home.
The two girls were excited to find that they were simply a few steps away from each other and Pansy was relieved to find she was the first door knowing that later on in the term she would find the task of ascending the stairs a hassle. The girls had checked out Pansy's room first which was carpeted in a plush grey and had an enchanted star ceiling, much like the Great Hall.
"Has McGonagall used legilimens when redesigning these rooms?" she wondered aloud as she placed a hand over the tall mahogany dresser which had a large gold framed mirror resting upon it. The witch could find no fault with the rooms decor and wondered if the room changed design depending on the occupant's preference. When they went to Ginny's, Pansy's final theory proved correct when the lamp on Ginny's bedside table changed form as soon as the redhead stepped into the room, as if her mind had changed.
"It's like the room of requirement," said Ginny, glancing around. The witches looked at each other and then simultaneously launched themselves at Ginny's four poster bed, dissolving into laughter as they bounced on impact.
"What are you two laughing at?" came the voice of Ron from the open door way, Blaise walked past him, on his way to his own room. Pansy sat up, proving herself on her elbow as she looked the the wizard.
The Slytherin draped an arm over Ginny's hips, her fingers splayed wide on the younger girl's thigh. "Just talking about what I'm going to do to your little sister tonight once everyone's gone to bed," winked the witch as Ginny laughed into her hands. Ron's eyebrows shot up into his hairline as Blaise jogged back down the staircase after hearing Pansy, and pushed his way into the room.
"Need a third member to the party," he wiggled his eyebrows as he stalked his way towards the bed. The two girls were crying with laughter, gripping at each other in an attempt to calm down. Ron was still at the doorway, his face turning a dark shade of scarlet which set the two friends off again.
"Oh lay off it Zabini," giggled Ginny as she gasped for air. The dark skinned wizard simply grinned and grabbed the girls by the ankles, dragging them off the large bed onto the carpeted floor.
"You can either accept that a threesome is in your future or I will have to spend my year persuading you and failing my classes in attempt to bed you both," he teased, hyper aware of Ron spluttering in the doorway as he stood over the girls.
"Oh Merlin Blaise, that's disgusting," sassed Pansy as she gently kicked him out of the way. "You're not the wizard for me."
"Who could possibly beat the great Blaise Zabini when it come to looks and charm and my clever wit?" pouted the wizard as he lunged for the slender witch who had stood up, her hands on her hips defiantly. Uncharacteristically, the Slytherin witch squealed and she ran to Ron, using the broad wizard as a human shield.
"He lives in the dorm and he so muscle-y. Oh Merlin Blaise he make me all hot and bothered," she whispered into the blushing redhead's ear, smirking as she enjoyed the spluttering coming from the redheads.
"Weasley!" Cried Blaise, as he placed his hand over his chest comically. "Oh Pansy my love, you wound me. I will be avenged," he bellowed, laughing in good nature as he sunk to his knees, pretending to have been stabbed.
"I would help you Zabini but I am a woman whose heart is spoken for," chuckled Ginny as she stood up, catching the eye of Pansy who was still wrapped around Ron.
Her brother either already knew about Ginny's supposedly secret relationship or he was too busy comprehending Pansy's declaration.
"Merlin girls, you really know how to kick a man when he is down," Blaise by this point was lying on the floor, his arms and legs dominating the small space. "I will just have to try my hand with the Patil girl."
"Good luck, she's in a very committed relationship with Lavender Brown," giggled Ginny.
"Then Abbott will have to swoon at the Zabini charm,"
"If you can steal her from Neville then sure,"
"Merlin, it will have to be me and Ernie Macmillan then," Blaise was faux-sobbing by this point, reducing the trio to tears once more.
"Luna Lovegood is in this dorm. You could get to know her. She's lovely," suggested Ginny as she grabbed one the wizard's hands and attempted to pull him towards the door.
"Merlin it's going to be a year of grafting with younger years again," he cried as Ginny gave up and went to her bathroom to run a bath, leaving Pansy and Ron to slink off through the door. "Am I destined to be forever alone?"
"Oh stop being so dramatic Blaise!"
"Ginevra you hag, I am in pain," came the wailing response. Ginny had to give credits to the man who could keep the act up, laughing at the Slytherin's cheerful antics..
"You'll be in real pain if you don't shut up soon."
Harry and Hermione thanked the professor's retreating back as Draco exclaimed.
"Sharing a room!" he cried once more, his eyebrows furrowing as he thought of where that would take him. "I can hardly control myself over dinner let alone if we were sharing a bed."
Hermione nodded slightly, taking a seat on the sofa and bringing her knees up to her chest, deep in thought. Draco's eyes followed the curvature of her chest as she breathed, the tops of her breasts exposed in her tank top. The Muggle jean shorts she was wearing emphasised her long legs and Draco had to take a seat himself so as not to embarrass himself in front of The Boy Who Lived.
"Maybe it's for the best," suggested Harry, knowing that the pair were going to tiptoe around. "I mean, we've all read that book. You know what's going to happen eventually. What are you waiting for?" he said frustrated that the pair needed to be pushed to talk openly about it.
"Harry, it's not a simple as marking and then going about our lives," sighed Hermione. The brunette was fiddling with a lone curl that had escaped her high ponytail. "Did you read past that chapter?" she inquired to which Harry shook his head. "Once a werewolf and their mate have consummated the relationship and the mate has accepted the mark, every full moon, the need to reproduce will become all encompassing. There is no escaping it."
"Oh," accepted Harry as he sunk into one of the armchairs. "But we all know this isn't something you're fighting. You both care deeply for each other and it's obvious. If it's any help, you do know you both have the support and blessing of all of us. I want you to be happy Mione, and this is your soul's way of pointing you towards that happiness. Stop fighting it."
Draco by this point was reclining fully, breathing deeply with a hand over his eyes. The wizard looked in pain and Harry asked if he was okay.
"Just... let's leave the topic of sex till we're alone, eh Granger," he grumbled, his voice lower than usual. The effects of the second verbal conformation she had had in a day, and Draco's voice was instantaneous on the Gryffindor who jumped from her seat. Her iris' were gold and Harry could taste her magic in the air, leaving a metallic, numb taste to his tongue. He fought to keep the smile off of his face, knowing that his words had helped Hermione fully accept what was happening to her.
"Draco I am going to check out the room," she declared, her voice wavering. The young witch held a hand out to Draco who clasped it without opening his eyes. "Thank you Harry."
"No problem," he replied, stretching his long legs out over the sofa, a hand waving lazily at the retreating couple. The smug wizard lay back, not fussed with seeing his room. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to slip into a dreamless sleep in front of the fire at Hogwarts.
"Hermione, this is a little fast don't you think?" he questioned, struggling to control his dirty thoughts. The blonde wizard followed the brunette obediently as she lead them to their room. His right hand was still in her grip but his left was a tight fist as he fought himself to not grab the witch by the waist.
"Just shut up," she growled quietly, practically running up the final few steps.
The couple stopped in front of their door, the situation finally dawning upon them.
"Can you hear that?" asked Draco as he cocked his head. The faint sound of a feminine moan made Hermione blush.
"The dorms aren't soundproof. We need to tell everyone to cast silencing charms," she babbled and Draco didn't need the bond to know how wound up she was. The witch was bobbing as he reached past her and unlatched the door. Her eyes widened as she looked at the simple decor. A grand headboard took up the majority of the back wall which was framed by two thin windows, each depicting a courtly love scene. The grey colour scheme was accented with silver and Hermione was in awe of the elegant aesthetic. She gravitated to the writing desk that was situated in front of the floor to ceiling window. The curved wooden ceiling with it's exposed beams made the girl itch to begin studying at the desk, overlooking the grounds once the snow began to fall, knowing that she was safe and warm up in the tower.
"Granger," hesitated Draco who was hovering near the king sized bed. The Wolf was tearing him apart from inside, desperate to touch and kiss the girl but he remained with his back to her, nostrils flared as he breathed deeply.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as she turned on her heel, a blush settled across her cheeks. He heard her clear her throat as she slowly walked to stand next to him. He could feel her apprehension trickle through the bond and mingle with his own.
"We need to talk about this," he warned quietly as she placed a small hand on his bicep, using it as leverage as she spun him around to face her. Draco's line of sight stayed above her head, his chin resting on top of her curls as she shook her head.
"Draco, look at me," she whispered, a hand resting on his cheek in persuasion. She gingerly pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw, the only part of his skin she could reach without having to be on her tiptoes. "It is alright. We're going to be alright," she soothed as he lowered his chin to look her in the eyes.
"If we carry on any further I won't be able to stop myself," his voice was distant as his Wolf took over. He was practically salivating at the sight of Hermione's golden eyes and flushed complexion. She was staring at his lips, her own plump and glossy as she licked them.
"I don't want you to stop," she whispered as he wrapped his forearms around her small waist, picking her up and burying his face in her neck.
Draco could feel Hermione's desire and he knew that this was it. He walked backwards until the back of his knees came in contact with the tall mattress. Hermione couldn't touch the floor whilst Draco had her lifted and when he lay back she followed, landing on his chest.